Coppa Italia semi final line-ups: Bologna vs. Empoli
Bologna look to Thijs Dallinga and Riccardo Orsolini in the Coppa Italia semi-final against injury-hit Empoli, hoping to book their showdown with Milan.
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall'Ara at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
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You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
The Rossoblu already have one foot in the Final on May 14 at the Stadio Olimpico, as they won the first leg 3-0 in Tuscany thanks to Orsolini and a Dallinga double.
They are coming off a spectacular 1-0 Serie A victory over Inter, decided by the last-gasp Orsolini scissor-kick volley, which saw them leapfrog Juventus into fourth place.
Emil Holm has been ruled out by a muscular issue to his left calf, joining Lukasz Skorupski, Lewis Ferguson and Nicolò Casale on the treatment table.
Orsolini steps into the starting XI with Dallinga, as Santiago Castro is still not at 100 per cent after a foot bruise on international duty.
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Nikola Moro and Giovanni Fabbian also come in.
EMPOLI, ITALY – APRIL 1: Fans of Empoli FC during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between Empoli FC and FC Bologna at Stadio Carlo Castellani on April 1, 2025 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by)
Empoli have been an absolute revelation in the Coppa Italia this season, eliminating Torino, Fiorentina and Juventus along the way to their first ever semi-final.
That form was really not reflected in Serie A, where they are without a win in 2025 and at real risk of relegation, although there have been improvements lately thanks to draws with Como, Cagliari and Venezia.
The absentee list remains extensive, including Youssef Maleh, Christian Kouame, Ardian Ismajli, Nicolas Haas, Pietro Pellegri and Szymon Zurkowski.
Ola Solbakken leads the attack with support from Ibrahim Konate and Viktor Kovalenko, while veteran Mattia De Sciglio starts in a three-man defence.
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Bologna: Ravaglia; De Silvestri, Beukema, Lucumí, Lykogiannis; Freuler, Moro; Orsolini, Fabbian, Cambiaghi; Dallinga
Empoli: Seghetti; Tosto, Marianucci, De Sciglio; Ebuehi, Sambia, Bacci, Cacace; Kovalenko, Konate; Solbakken
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Coppa Italia Semi Final Liveblog: Bologna vs. Empoli
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